Stealing President Krendl's Parking Space

“How many men are there to a square thousand miles in this country? Hardly one.”

On the day that we reviewed Thoreau in class, I was having a particularly foul morning. I had fought with my family, on principles of respect, and then I couldn't find a parking space anywhere near Roush.

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And I was going to be late.

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Running on little sleep and even less patience, I vultured for spots, in a desperate hope for something to lift.

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And, in the way of such hopes, nothing did.

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But, insolently, there was one available parking spot, close by, in the Clippinger Parking Lot.

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RESERVED FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

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Now, this is a new development, perhaps a perk demanded by the president in order to coerce her to assume the position, but I don't see why the president gets it easier than the faculty and students that vulture for spots and walk.

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Now, this level of apathetic disrespect does not usually apply to me, but dammit, that spot was paved in the sense of parking for everyone! I mean, can you claim land? I understand Thoreau was enraged by fencing off property. How would he feel?

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Long story short, I parked.

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Not a particularly invigorating rebellion, until I describe the following event.

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As I walked away from my car, a minivan approached, closing in. As I watched the incoming President Krendl looked at my parked car, looked at me, and gave me the dirtiest look I have ever recieved from faculty. I waited until she drove her minivan, hitting the gas a bit abrupty, away to vulture elsewhere. Then I just grinned and thought to myself, "Well, Jen... Thoreau would be proud."

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Now, I have nothing against President Krendl. I actually like her a lot better than the last one we had. But I loved parking in that spot. Statement aside, it felt GOOOooood.

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"All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable." Now, I may not see Krendl as a tyrant, or even deserving of a rebellion, but this quote defines the reasons why I myself am enchanted, seduced, and entralled by rebellion.

When I say I am seduced by rebellion, I don't mean that I am willing to chuck all law and order out the window and live in chaos. Oh no. Law and order is both necessary and helpful, as is government. This is true of both until they are abused.

I do not believe that we as Americans have a bad way of life, but I do believe that the majority of the common man are being used and abused by what my ex used to call "the man".

"THE MAN", by his definition, is anyone who "brings you down." By his definition, his best friend Anita was, on this occaision, "being THE MAN." Now, I asked him if anyone possessing power was "THE MAN." He told me yes. I asked him if this included President of the Band. My boyfriend and current server of the aformentioned Office said yes. I told him that by that definition, he was "THE MAN."

He grumbled at me to stop ruining the theories he lived by.

But at any rate, this definition of the man leaves us all being "THE MAN." In other words, the only thing that oppresses us is US, by accepting the dictations of those above. Of the proverbial MAN.

But, there are a few things that separate us from revolting against that which we believe oppresses us. For one, law.

That parking space rebellion came with a $25 fine.

For two, money.

If I park there everyday, in the hopes of garnering a desire for more parking, I will be charged $25 a day, until I am towed, costing me thousands of dollars. Thousands of dollars that I, the protesting college student, does not possess. Protest FAIL.

The same philosophy can be applied to rebellion against corporate interests, a corrupt governement. If we give them too much hell, the powers that be will use the law and their power to ruin our lives. Without batting an eyelash. And here is where democracy becomes tyranny.

Money rules this country.

“It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience,” Thoreau writes. Well, aparently, there is co conscience in the world of Dow Jones.

If you want to see the root of war, hunger, poverty, look to greed. Look to Halliburton, Chase Visa, and Wallstreet. I believe sometimes that greed is the greatest sin, becuase as Jesus said, "Money is the root of all evil."

And you know what? A good part of me believes that.

Thoreau, like Emerson, is another guy that gets me all excited. And do, I won't apologize for the wording. It's those kinds of words that change the world, and they did. When I read Civil Disobedience, it makes me want to go out and dress in a clown suit and tell Congress that I will be speaking today, since I have all the credentials, including the jokes.

It's been a long time since I've thought our government wasn't a joke.

Not to say that I think it's funny. It sure as hell isn't funny.

How would Thoreau react to the climate of America today? Well, I think he would move to Canada, in the wilderness, and Emerson would hide his head in shame. I mentioned in the last blog the dangers of self-reliance, self-reliance to the point of heartlessness. Emerson hopes that the self-reliant man may be guided by inner light. What happens when the theory is half-lived?

A very selfish person, I imagine.

Now, to clarify, I don't believe Krendl relates to these issues. I think she's pretty darn swell, actually.

But maybe parking illegaly is a start. Maybe voting for a different party, picketing the statehouse lawn, anything.

We just have to act.

God bless Thoreau for going to jail.

I parked in Krendl's spot today.

Now it's your turn.

"All machines have their friction; and possibly this does enough good to counterbalance the evil."